Finger-actuated key-operated machine



avwawkn Filed July 16. 1920 F P GORIN FINGER ACTUATED KEY OPERATED MACH INE May 29, 1923.

Patented May 29, 1923.

U [TE FINGER-ACTUATED KEY-O PERATED MACHINE.

Application filed July 16, 1920. Serial No. 396,708.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK P. G 0R IN, a citizen of the United States, and residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Finger-Actuated Key-Operated Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in finger-actuated key-operated machines,

such as tabulating, adding, and similar machines, and is particularly directed to improving the construction shown and described in my co-pending application Serial No. 366387.

The said co-pending application is directed to the provision of a key mask, which while normally ineffective with respect to any of the keys to be operated, is adapted to be selectively operative with respect to any of the keys. In such construction, it is necessary to actuate an independent element before the mask can be caused to operate any desired key, and the present construction is designed to arrange the mask so that it is normally 0 erativelyefi'ective with respect to one of t e keys, as for example the key of lowest denomination or value, so that said particular key may be operated simply thru movement of the mask. The improvement contemplates the use of the selective connection of the mask with any of the remaining keys with the additional function of the selective means in disconnecting the mask from the normally connected means.

Thus the mask of the present invention when operated under normal conditions will actuate a predetermined key, the operation of any other key by the mask requiring the actuation of selective mechanism for such key, the actuated selected mechanism disconnecting the normally cooperative key from the mask.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a broken side elevation of the tabulator key machine, illustrating the application of the invention thereto.

Fig. 2 is a broken plan view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

A key operated mask 1 is slidably connected to the machine frame thru side bars 2, with in and slot connections 3, to the frame. he mask proper is constructed as a hollow body 4 having upper and lower walls 5 and 6 which are spaced apart a distance in excess of the ends 7 of the keys. The body of the mask is arranged directly 1n front of the keys in such relation that without additional means, the mask in its inward movement would pass over the keys Without engagingany of them. The important detail of the present invention however, is the provision of means whereby the mask in such normal movement, and without the operation of any other part or parts will actuate one of the keys. This means comprises a plate 8 pivotally supported at 9 on the inner end of mask body and normally held by a spring 10, so that the free end of the plate is in advance of and in line with the end of the particular key. The mere inward movement of the mask will, under this construction cause the plate 8 to engage the particular key and operate the same to secure the function performed by that key.

The remaining tabulating keys are to be selectively connected for operation by the mask, for which purpose there are pivotally supported at 11 on the inner edge of the mask body, a series of levers 12 each lever having its operative end normally held out of line with the key by a spring 13. The opposite end of each lever is extended as a finger piece 14 above the plane of the mask, so that at will, any particular lever may, by pressure on the finger piece be moved into line with its key to thereupon cause said lever in the operation of the mask to actuate that key.

As the mask is normally arranged to operate a selected key, and provided with means for selectively operating any other key, it is of course apparent that the normally operated key must be disconnected from mask operation, when a selective key is to be operated. For this purpose the plate 8 beyond the pivot 9 is provided with an L-shape extension 15, which underlies a cross bar 16 of an inverted U-shape bail 17 pivotally mounted at its ends on the side walls of the mask. The cross bar 16 of the bail is in the path of movement of the finger ends of any of the selected levers 12, so that said bail is depressed when a particular selected lever is operated. As the bail is depressed,- the plate 8 is obviously moved out of line with the particular tabulating key, and therefore in the actuation of any selective lever, the key with which the mask is normally cooperative is disconnected from such cooperation.

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Ordinarily the decimal tabulating key or key of lowest value is normally in cooperative relation with the-mask, as thereby a considerable saving of tune in operation of the machine is etl'ected. IVhile any tabulating key may he thus normally connected with the mask. the decimal or key of lowest value is preferred, as in the operation of such key, the carriage is always set at the decimal point at which the majority of all columns of tabulating matter begin. 'lheret'ore under this construction, the operator, without other thought or action, then merely pressing the mask, will return the carriage to this decimal or beginning point, though the return of the carriage to a selective column controlled by the other keys may be readily effected by the operation of the selective lever for that key.

lVhat I claim is 1. A series of tabulating keys, a mask, and means whereby said mask is normally cooperative with a single key and means whereby the mask selectively cooperates with any other key.

2. A series of tabulating keys, a mask, and means whereby said mask is normally cooperative with a single key and means whereby the mask selectively cooperates with the remaining keys, the selective cooperation interrupting such normal cooperation.

3. A series of tabulating keys, an operating mask, means for normally connecting the mask to one of the keys, and means for selectively connecting the mask to any of the remaining keys.

4. A series of tabulating keys, a mask normally connected with one of such keys, means carried by the mask whereby it may be selectively connected with any other of said keys, said means interrupting the normal connection of the mask with the key.

, 5. In a tabulating machine, the combination of a frame, tabulating mechanism including a series of keys, a mask common to all of the keys and normally cooperating with one key, and means whereby the normally operative key and a selective one of the remaining keys may be alternately operated.

6. In a machine having finger keys designed for selective cooperation, a mask adapted to operatively coact with but normally free of direct influence on certain of such keys, and means carried by such mask to normally cooperate with a particular key in the movement of the mask.

7. In a machine having finger keys designed for selective operation, a mask normally co-operating with a predetermined key but free of direct influence on all other of such keys, and selective means carried by such mask to influence any of such other keys at will in the movement of the mask.

8. In a machine having a plurality of finger operated keys, of operating means movable with respect to, but free of direct influence on certain of such keys, but directly influencing a certain other key, key engaging means carried by such operating means and adapted for selective operation at; will.

9. In a machine having a plurality of finger operated keys, of operating means movable with respect to but free of direct influence on certain of such keys, another key directly connected with said operating means and ke-y engaging means carried by such operating means, and normally beyond key engaging position, said key engaging means being selectively operable into key engaging position.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a framework, and a key movable therein, a mask movable on the framework and at all times connected with the key, a separate set of keys normally out of engagement with the mask and means whereby the mask may be arranged for operative engagement with any one of the last mentioned keys.

11. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a framework. a plurality of keys movable therein, a mask movable idly with respect to all of the keys excepting the one of lowest denomination, normally operative connections between the last mentioned key and the mask, and means for effecting working relation between the mask and one of the other keys at will.

12. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a tabulating mechanism including a series of keys, an idly moving mask for all of the keys excepting the one of lowest denomination and selective means for effecting working relation between a particular key and the mask.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FRED P. GORIN. 

